When stormwater and sewerage don't mix

By Damien Brown and Tim Walker

Launceston is one of the few places in Tasmania that has a combined sewerage and storm water drain system. It may end up costing ratepayers dearly, as the newly formed Ben Lomond Water, and soon to be Taswater, demands extra dollars to maintain and improve both.

Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski has layed a challenge at the feet of Miles Hampton, Chairman of Onstream and board member of all three current regional water boards.

One month ago Ben Lomond Water informed the council that they will be billed 5.8 million dollars per annum for the water authority to maintain the stormwater component of the infrastructure.

Launceston, as one of the earliest cities in Australia, has a combined sewerage and stormwater system; the same pipes carry both to the treatment plant.

This has meant that since the formation of Ben Lomond Water, there has been some confusion about who is responsible for the ongoing maintenence and repair of the system.

From Launceston City Council's perspective, the new fee is an unfair impost on Launceston ratepayers, who will bear the brunt of any fee through increased rates.

They have reacted swiftly and angrily to suggestions by Miles Hampton that the council have known about the impending charges for the past four years.

In a press release on Friday, the council have challenged Mr Hampton to,

'...make public any previous correspondence Ben Lomond Water has sent to the Council

indicating that the Council would be responsible for its combined water and sewerage system, or the scale of such a charge.'

'The Launceston City Council is unsure whether Mr Hampton's claim is therefore blatant misrepresentation, or an honest blunder.'

'In the interests of fairness, we call on him to clarify his claim.'

Listen to Robert Dobrzynski speaking with Drive Presenter Damien Brown by clicking the audio player above.

On July 1, the three regional water boards, which were created in 2009 through amalgamating council infrastructure, will be rolled into one state body, to be known as Taswater.

Council's maintain ownership of the water boards, and will be shareholders in the new statewide entity.

Speaking with Damien Brown on ABC Northern Tasmania's Drive program, the general manager said, "It's not money that we have, it's a completely new cost, and it's an imposition in the order of magnitude of $130-$140 per ratable property."

"At a time when there's increasing concern with cost of living pressures on our depressed economy, this is just an outrageous imposition."